Demre Guide

This charming town attracts visitors not only in the summer but also towards the end of the year. The main reason for this is that the historical Church of St. Nicholas, where St. Nicholas known as Santa Claus — lived and served as a bishop, and his statue in the church's garden, are both located in Demre.

Demre, a focal point of Turkey's natural beauty, historical artifacts, crystal-clear seas, and greenhouse agriculture, is situated on the old Kaş road and serves as the closest exit to Kekova Bay. The Church of St. Nicholas, which forms the foundation of Demre’s international reputation, is said to have been built in the 3rd or 4th century after St. Nicholas was buried in a sarcophagus following his death on December 6, 343. The church suffered significant damage in the earthquake of 529 and was restored with the support of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. The tomb inside the church remained intact until the 11th century when sailors who arrived in Demre took the bones of St. Nicholas to Bari, Italy, where a large cathedral was built in his honor.

Today, the church, located in the town's marketplace and open for visits, contains the broken sarcophagus of St. Nicholas in one of its apses — the same sarcophagus damaged by the Bari sailors. Meanwhile, the bone fragments, said to belong to St. Nicholas and which the Bari sailors could not take, are displayed at the Antalya Museum.

Born in Patara as the son of a wealthy man and receiving a good education, St. Nicholas frequently traveled to Palestine and Egypt in his youth. Sailors believed that they survived a storm during one of his sea voyages thanks to his prayers. Many legends surround him, and he is considered the protector of children, prisoners, sailors, and travelers. In England alone, there are said to be over 400 churches dedicated to St. Nicholas.

During the Byzantine era, a basilica dedicated to St. Nicholas was built in Istanbul. Every year on December 6, the date of St. Nicholas’s death, the “Call for World Peace and St. Nicholas” event is held at the Church of St. Nicholas, during which a Peace Prize is awarded. Since 1981, the St. Nicholas Symposium, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, has become a traditional event, drawing participation from religious and academic figures worldwide, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. These events, covered by international media, significantly contribute to the promotion of both Demre and Turkey on a global scale.

The 1-kilometer-long beach of Demre, where the Çayağzı (Demre-Myrus) River meets the sea, hosts caretta caretta sea turtles. Another notable site in the area is Myra, a significant city of the Lycians founded in the 5th century BC, located 1.5 kilometers from today's city center. Myra is famous for its ancient theater and rock tombs. At the entrance to the ancient city, camel tours are organized for tourists. Walking through the site filled with street vendors selling carpets, souvenirs, figurines, and market goods, you will see the theater on your right and the multi-layered rock tombs carved into the mountain slope on your left, north of the Church of St. Nicholas. These rock tombs, regarded as monuments, are part of the ancient city of Myra and are known to have existed since the 5th century BC.

During the spread of Christianity, St. Paul, one of Jesus's apostles, visited Myra, which became a significant religious center during the Christian era. At the entrance to the ancient site, you'll find the well-preserved theater with a total of 35 rows. The theater, which even had a royal box, was also used as an arena for gladiatorial combat. The ruins of Andriake and the thermal spring on the road to Çayağzı are believed to have healing properties and are thought to aid in treating certain stomach and skin conditions through week-long treatments.

For accommodation suggestions, you can check our Demre Hotels page.